Archeology and Volcanism in Central America: The Zapotitan Valley of El Salvador - Texas Pan American Series

Publisher Marketing: Scientists have long speculated on the impact of extreme natural catastrophes on human societies. This book provides evidence of the effects of several volcanic disasters on a major civilization of the Western Hemisphere, that of the Maya.

Contributor Bio:  Sheets, Payson D Payson Sheets' research interests include the archaeology of Mesoamerica and the Intermediate Area of lower Central America, focusing on the interrelationships between human societies and volcanic processes in tropical climates. He has incorporated remote sensing with geophysical data to detect and explore the remains of human activity in various countries of Central America. Recent research has focused on the Ceren site, catastrophically buried by the eruption of nearby Loma Caldera volcano in AD 590. At this remarkable site, structures are preserved, including their thatch roofs and their entire artifactual contents, and fields with their cultigens are intact.